Atiku moves to calm tensions, visits Amaechi after ADC presidential primary

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar on Thursday visited former Rivers State governor, Rotimi Amaechi at his Abuja residence in a move seen as part of efforts to reconcile aggrieved members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) after the party’s presidential primary.

Atiku, who emerged as the ADC presidential candidate for the 2027 election, was accompanied by former Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal, former ADC national chairman, Ralph Nwosu and other party leaders.

The closed-door meeting came barely 24 hours after Atiku defeated Amaechi and economist, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen at the party’s presidential primary.

Official results released by the party showed that Atiku polled 1,846,370 votes to defeat Amaechi, who secured 504,117 votes, while Hayatu-Deen got 177,120 votes.

Following his victory, the ADC leadership led by former Senate President David Mark, presented the party’s flag to Atiku.

Speaking after the exercise, Atiku appealed to aggrieved party members to unite ahead of the 2027 general election.

“I appeal to all those who feel aggrieved to return to the party and close ranks with the rest of us,” he said.

The former vice president also specifically urged Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen to join hands with him in the battle to unseat President Bola Tinubu in 2027.

“In particular, I invite Chief Rotimi Amaechi and Alhaji Muhammad Hayatu-Deen to join me in this fight to save our democracy and our country,” Atiku stated.

He maintained that there were “no winners and no losers” in the contest, pledging to work with all stakeholders to strengthen the ADC ahead of the next presidential election.

However, Amaechi and Hayatu-Deen had earlier rejected the outcome of the primary even before the final announcement of the results, citing irregularities in the voting process.

Details of Thursday’s meeting were still sketchy as of the time of filing this report.